TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A REMODELING CONTRACTOR: MAKING A HOMEOWNER CRY

Nothing is worse than having to tell a homeowner they have been scammed.

MAKING A HOMEOWNER CRY

This has been one of the toughest month’s for me as a home remodeling contractor.

Two of the potential clients that I visited with were brought to tears and another one was strong enough to hold back the tears but realized they threw away money.

WHAT WENT WRONG

The first of my heart breaking experiences happened in Palm Beach Gardens. A woman, had a leak, which unfortunately led to mold.

But… the people she hired to “fix it” removed anything and everything that they could, down to the metal studs that were part of her exterior walls.

There is no easy fix to put her home back together, especially because it is part of a quadruplex. The homeowners association won’t let her rip down what is remaining from the exterior walls and now they are in danger of collapsing, her insurance company is denying the claim, and the “friends” that helped her weren’t licensed.

The only remedy she has is to hire a public adjuster to help her navigate the insurance company process and to hire a construction attorney to help her recoup her costs from the work that was done improperly. Until she gets the homeowners association to grant her permission to fix the exterior walls, she is in limbo.

The next of my heart breaking experiences happened in Wellington where work was done without a permit and the second contractor is no where to be found.

A homeowner needed work done on his home. The “contractor” who only could work weekends was caught doing work on the home without a permit. The Village of Wellington issued a stop work order, fined the homeowner, and had the electric meter pulled from the house as a safety precaution.

The homeowner, after paying fines, hired another contractor. But, this contractor is now missing in action. I advised the homeowner that I could not do any work on the home unless the permit was closed. Like the previous homeowner, this job will remain in limbo until the legal ramifications are solved.

The last my heart breaking experiences this week also happened in Wellington.

A homeowner wanted to remodel their kitchen and have an addition put on their home. They hired a draftsman to draw up the plans. The plans did not reflect what the homeowner wanted! The plans were what the designer wanted to draw.

As a design-build contractor I have seen this time and time again. Some draftsmen or architects don’t understand the big picture and don’t understand how things are tied together. The homeowner, throughout our meeting, kept saying “but that is what I wanted.”

It is very frustrating to me that homeowners waste money on plans that won’t work. It is not that every designer/draftsman does a poor job… but I have seen it way too many times that plans are not usable because they are incomplete, don’t meet the homeowner requirements, or they are drawn incorrectly.

BEFORE YOU CHOOSE TO DO A REMODEL

Think about how your change will effect the look of your home. Realize that the newer things may alter how the rest of your home looks. That doesn’t mean you don’t make changes. But… think about how your changes can affect your vision of your home.

If you are changing the floors, do you want to change the doors, their thresholds, the moldings? If you are adding additional cabinets, how are you going to tie the cabinets together? Will you need to resurface the old cabinets, change out all of the hardware, or replace everything?

Making all the cabinet pulls the same may not be so easy. How the new handles get installed may not cover old holes. The old hardware may not easily be removed.

When you do choose to remodel, look for someone with good listening skills who shares your vision for what your home should look like. Feel free to ask for references. Then, before you sign on the dotted line, check with your state to ensure your architect or custom builder is licensed in his or her field.

Online Contractor Referrals: The Hidden Truth

Online contractor referral services are really pay to play… Just you may not pay directly.

An article was published in the Seattle Times online last week. As background, Seattle is the home of Amazon, Porch, and Pro.com, three of the big players in the lead-generation industry. (Hmmm… this is suspiciously convenient!)

BIG RED FLAG – No reputable contractor gives a price for a project without first seeing the house, site conditions, asking the homeowners detailed questions, etc.

The article’s goal was to let homeowners know they should be going online and using lead-generating companies to find a contractor. One of the things the article says is: “The technology enables customers to find contractors, price jobs and even schedule appointments – without leaving the couch.”

Although the article doesn’t directly say it, it comes pretty darned close to saying contractors can’t be trusted without the oversight of lead-generation companies:

Lead Generation Companies Don’t Vet Contractors

So, lead-generating companies are marketing themselves to homeowners as the only way to find a trustworthy contractor. But what’s in it for these companies? They want to sell each lead to as many as four contractors, who then have to either raise their prices or cut corners to cover the lead costs. In reality, homeowners will be the ones paying for the use of these middlemen even though their service is touted as “free”.

These companies do no better of a job vetting a contractor than you can, and they don’t want to. They just want to sell leads. So long as a contractor keeps buying leads, they’re happy and have no reason to ban them.

Best Way to Find A Trustworthy Contractor

In reality, the best way for a consumer to find a trustworthy contractor online is to visit contractors’ websites and watch videos from, and talk to, their clients. Consumers can and should vet a contractor (such as checking for licenses, insurance, references, etc.), but testimonials from past clients are priceless.

These lead generation companies don’t understand how the industry works; they just want to make money off it. They don’t realize that remodeling and specialty contractors don’t provide a commodity, they provide a service. Having repairs done, or a bookcase built, isn’t like buying a book or a dress or a pair of shoes that can be returned.

Home Remodeling Done One House At A Time

Contrary to the theme of the article, the home remodeling industry hasn’t moved online. It’s still done one home at a time, one project at a time, using the hands of craftsmen who know their trade and do it well.

Besides, you already know a trustworthy contractor – Leading Edge Homes. Whenever a project comes up, please call us at 561-795-2551 and we will be happy to complete it for you.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

Home Fire Safety Tips

Jack-o-lanterns, turkey fryers, Christmas lights and trees – oh My!

Today, it officially feels like Fall in South Florida and it is a signal that the upcoming months pose many fire hazards.

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape?

According to the Red Cross, 60 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.

Before the merriment and frenzy of the holiday season begins…

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors:

Replace the batteries and test by pressing the test button or holding a smoke source (like a blown-out candle) near the unit.

Fire extinguishers:

Make sure it’s rated for all fire types (look for an A-B-C rating). Review the indicator on the pressure gauge to make sure the extinguisher is charged. Ensure that the lock pin is firmly in place and that the discharge nozzle is not clogged. Fire extinguishers should be replaced every six years.

Also, make sure nothing is blocking the fire extinguisher and you can access it easily.

Fire evacuation plan:

Determine an exit path for every bedroom, and make provisions (rope ladders, etc.) for bedrooms that are not on the main floor of the home. Establish a location away from the house where everyone should meet. Having a family’s fire evacuation plan could save your life!

Now that you are safe… let the fun begin.

We hope that you never need us to help restore your home after a disaster, but Leading Edge Homes, Inc. has done it many times. If you need help after a disaster or if you have questions about how to improve the safety of your home, call Leading Edge Homes at 561-795-2551 or email Todd at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and he’ll be happy to share his knowledge with you.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. specializes in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust.

A MISCONCEPTION ABOUT HIRING A REMODELING CONTRACTOR

Price should not be the only factor when hiring a professional home remodeling contractor.

Choosing the lowest price saves you money.

This is not always true!Although a low price seems tempting, you must ask yourself what is the contractor omitting or what shortcut is the contractor taking?

A True Story:

One roofer’s price on a job was $300 lower than the other price estimates.The homeowner wanted to save money and accepted his proposal.After the roofer installed the new roof covering, all the old shingles, tarpaper and nails were lying all the way around the house in the shrubs, trees, and grass.When the homeowner saw the debris strewn throughout his yard, he was enraged!The contractor told him that cleanup was not a part of his proposal and that was how he could do the job for less money than the other contractors could.

Signs of Trouble

One of the most common signs of trouble ahead is someone offering to do work for less money than others do.Like anything else, you cannot get something for nothing.Be careful of choosing your home remodeling / general contractor based upon the lowest price.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

IT WILL BE LESS EXPENSIVE TO DO THE WORK YOURSELF — REALLY?

One of the most common misconceptions about home remodeling is that it will be less expensive to do the work yourself or act as your own general contractor.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE DOING A DIY HOME REMODELING PROJECT

There are many things to consider before beginning a home remodeling project on your own.

SUBCONTRACTOR LICENSE VERIFICATION

First, you need to verify that every subcontractor or tradesmen you hire has the correct license and carries insurance. If a person does not have Worker’s Compensation Insurance, or an exemption, then you are liable for their lost wages and medical bills if they get hurt while working on your home.

WHAT IF THE TRADESMEN DAMAGE YOUR HOME?

What happens if one of the tradesmen damages your home? Your homeowner’s policy will not cover the damage caused by them. A general contractor carries both general liability and builder’s risk insurance policies to protect you.

PERMITS… PERMITS… PERMITS

Although you can typically pull a building permit for your job if you live in a single family home, will the subcontractors you hire be able to pull their permits? If you live in a multi-family dwelling, you will not be able to pull your own building permit.

Failure to pull a permit can cost you three times the original cost of a permit if the building department catches you.

If you decide to pull your own building permit, you will have to schedule your inspections, may need to take time off from work to meet with building inspectors, and you will have to take responsibility for all the work performed on your home.

WILL YOU BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTIONS? – TAKE A VACATION DAY

You may have to rely on the electrician, plumber, mechanical contractor, and roofer to pull their own permits and schedule their own inspections. You still may have to take time off from work to make your house available to them and their building inspectors.

How much is your time worth? When you schedule subcontractors and inspectors to come to your home you must ensure access to your house

BUILDING CODES… HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?

Do you know the latest building codes? If you do not build to the current codes or hire subcontractors who do not build to the current Florida Building Codes, you could end up wasting money having to redo work.

PRICING… YOU WILL PAY RETAIL FOR YOUR SUBCONTRACTORS

You may think you are saving money by contracting with trades directly, but they have multiple sets of prices. One for contractors they work with all year long, one for the occasional contractor, and one for the public. The public pays the highest price.

WHICH COMES FIRST… THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG?

It is critical to know the order in which subcontractors need to perform their work. If you get the order wrong, you may need to remove a subcontractor’s work. This will not only cost time, but money as well.

These are just a few of the potential issues that you may run into if you decide to act as your own general contractor. Before following this path, consider the risks, the time you may waste, the monetary losses you could face, and the added stress of completing your home remodeling project.

Todd Perry, a State of Florida Certified Building Contractor and president of Leading Edge Homes, Inc., provided this information.

Water Stains on the Ceiling and In the Attic

If you live in South Florida, every day seems like a rainy day and the afternoon storms are quite strong. If you are noticing stains on your ceilings or leaks in your attic, it may be a result of broken or packed gutters or cracks in your roof or flashing.

Gutter Maintenance

Inspect and clean your gutters and make sure they are free of debris. Also, make sure your gutter connections are sound and the downspouts are clear.

Roof Tiles Cracked / Discolored or Broken Shingles

If you notice your roofing tiles are broken, cracked or missing, it is a sign that they need to be replaced. Walking on your roof, if you are not careful, can also cause tiles to crack and damage your roof.

Use a Camera From the Ground to Inspect Your Roof

To check your roof – without using a ladder and walking on your roof, zoom in with a camera to inspect from the ground. Gutter cleaning and repairs require that you use a ladder. If you are ladder-shy contact Leading Edge Homes, Inc. and we will assist you with this project.

When to Call a Professional – Like Leading Edge Homes, Inc.

If you have water-stained drywall – do not replace it yourself. You may need mold remediation. Let a professional assess the situation so you don’t risk spreading mold spores into your home.

Also, the safety risk isn’t worth it for repairing or replacing anything on the roof. Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a state licensed roofing contractor!

If you are ladder-shy or don’t own a ladder, contact a professional for your gutter cleaning and repairs. Safety first!

If you have specific questions about any home improvement project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

Spray Foam VS Fiberglass Batt Insulation: Which Is Better?

Virtually every room addition and home remodeling project I have completed over the last 24 years has needed wall and ceiling insulation. I understand the trouble homeowners are faced with when making the decision of which type of insulation to use due to the long term consequences. While both types of insulation have their own unique pros and cons, this article will explain enough of the benefits and drawbacks of each type so you can decide for yourself which is best for your situation.

The Difference Between Price and Cost

Before getting into each type of insulation, it would be helpful to review the difference between price and cost. Price is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket to initially buy a product. Cost is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket over the lifetime of owning a product. If you are remodeling a bathroom and just need to insulate the ceiling, the low price option (fiberglass batts) makes the most sense. If you are adding 1000 s.f. of living space to your house, the low cost option (spray foam) probably makes the most sense if you have no intentions of moving.

Fiberglass Insulation Pros/Cons

The upside of fiberglass insulation is its low cost, availability in small quantities, and ease of installation by almost anyone. The downside is that it allows a lot of air movement because it does not seal tightly to itself or structural members, it gets installed above the ceiling still allowing the attic above it to get very hot in the summer, and it is not as efficient of an insulator on an inch by inch basis.

Spray Foam Insulation Pros/Cons

The upside of spray foam insulation is many: more efficient than fiberglass bath (inch per inch), near 100% air sealing, soffit and ridge vents are not needed, applied to the underside of the roof deck so attic is kept cool and a smaller size HVAC system can be used, and it won’t get stepped on and have its R-value reduced due to its application location. It’s downsides include it must be applied by an approved application company and set-up/minimum charges start at about $1,500.

Questions?

If you have questions about about any home improvement or remodeling project, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

Do I Have To Show I’m Getting Older?

The short answer is no. Members of the baby-boomer generation now have new concerns in the bathroom, but they would rather not announce it to the world. As more people age in place (right at home), safety is on their minds when they remodel the master and even guest bathroom.

Stylish Grab Bars Add Bathroom Safety

Great bathroom idea: A toilet paper holder that doubles as a grab bar!

While grab bars make navigating the shower or getting up from the toilet safer, the typical stainless steel ones with exposed screws look like they would be more appropriate in a hospital than in a private residence. Fear not! There are manufacturers that make stylish ones with concealed mounting hardware, “funky” shapes, and in chrome, brushed nickel, and polished nickel finishes.

Instead of installing one of those thick, plastic toilet seat risers that scream “ugly”, look for a toilet that is labeled as universal height, or ADA compliant. The toilet, with seat installed, will be 17″ to 19″ off the floor – a comfortable height for most people. I also recommend using a “soft close” seat which slowly closes by itself after giving the seat only a slight nudge toward the closed position.

Roll-Out Shelves Add Additional Safety

Stretching to reach items in the back of a base cabinet can be dangerous. Instead of risking losing your balance, install roll-out shelves. If you have room on top of the counter, consider adding a tower with doors and/or drawers to avoid bending altogether.

Using a rubber mat with suction cups on the back side is great for the shower floor. It is extremely functional, gives terrific traction, makes bathing less stressful, and yet it can be removed when guests are coming over.

Baby boomers have many more years of life ahead of them so they may as well make their bathroom work well for them. The beauty of the above suggestions is that style is not compromised for safety, and your home can still be shared with people of all ages.

If you have specific questions, please call me at 561-795-2551 or email me at: todd@leadingedgehomes.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge with you.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida certified building contractor specializing in improving your lifestyle through room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, hurricane-resistant screen enclosures, and more! In business since 1991, they demolish your stress by building your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their website todiscover how they can help you with your next home remodeling project in Palm Beach County.

After replacing existing, and installing new, hundreds of exterior doors over the last 24 years as a Florida licensed Building Contractor, I understand the trouble homeowners are faced with when making the decision of which type of door to install. While steel and fiberglass doors have their own unique pros and cons, this article will explain enough of the good, bad, and ugly of each type so you can decide for yourself which is best for your situation.

The Difference Between Price and Cost

Before getting into each type of door, it would be helpful to review the difference between price and cost. Price is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket to initially buy a product. Cost is the amount of money you need to take out of your pocket over the lifetime of owning a product. If you are replacing a door in preparation for selling your house, the low price option probably makes the most sense. If you have no intention of moving for over 5 years, the low cost option makes the most sense.

Steel Doors

The upside of a steel door is that it is significantly less expensive in price than fiberglass ones – $200 versus $400 ($600 if hurricane large missile impact rated with no-rot jamb and weatherproof hinges). The downside to a metal door is that it easily dents and dings, it rusts, and the wood jambs it is typically mounted in rots and provides food for termites.

Fiberglass Doors

The upside of fiberglass doors is that they do not rust of rot, they absorb minor impacts without denting, they are available with a smooth or wood-grained finish, and they are typically mounted on composite (no rot) jambs with stainless steel hinges. They are also available with a steel core which makes them hurricane large missile impact approved with no shutters. Their only downside is the extra initial price.

Since labor costs are the same for both door types, the cost of a fiberglass door is less than steel over the long run if you have to replace the steel door even once.

Leading Edge Homes, Inc. is a Florida state certified general contracting company specializing in room additions, bathroom renovations, kitchen updates, and hurricane-resistant screen enclosures. In business since 1991, the most important thing they build is your trust. Contact them at 561-795-2551 orvisit their websitefor more information about how they can help you with your next Palm Beach County home remodeling project.